Cod Almighty | Diary

No-one likes us, but we do care

31 July 2019

Miss Guest Diary writes: In the eight years since I took on the mantle of a Cod Almighty diarist, this is the first time I am writing this within sight of Blundell Park. Regular readers will know that I am from down south and only became a resident of Lincolnshire 17 years ago. Regrettably, the closest I have come to living here is the eight years I spent in Horncastle before moving further away to Lincoln.

When my brother retired recently and said he wanted to live on the coast, I had the bright idea of suggesting he move to Cleethorpes. After all, it's the place to be. I know it is because I saw that message strung across the promenade in fairy lights about 25 years ago. Anyway, he took my advice and bought a house quite close to the ground, and with a driveway large enough to park our car on match days. And several times a year I get to sample the delights of Cleethorpes while looking after his cats.

So far this has only once coincided with a home game, but the sheer luxury of a leisurely morning reading the newspaper, strolling up to St Peter's Avenue for a spot of lunch and then down to Blundell Park was bliss. I got so carried away that I was straight on to Rightmove after the game. We even viewed a couple of properties before common sense set in: there's no point moving here until we know exactly where Town's new stadium will be.

The old stadium has been in the news this week – or rather its manager Nick Dale has. Who needs enemies when your friends are shooting themselves, and you, in the foot, or some such metaphor. I agree with Monday's diarist in condemning Dale's condemnation of Town fans. But I must admit my first thought on reading his claim that Town is "the one club they don’t want visiting" was: "Hasn't he heard of Millwall?"

I lived in Watford for many years, in a block of flats next to a pub called the Southern Cross. Returning from seeing Town win at Charlton in October 1995, I heard a commotion ahead as I walked up from the station. There was some kind of melée on the pub forecourt and, just as I passed, a chair came sailing through the pub window. It was lobbed straight back, accompanied by a chunk of concrete. Yes, Millwall were in town.

I'm sure there are many such stories about many other clubs. Living in Lincoln now, I frequently see reports of football-related trouble. In 2013, 11 Lincoln fans were jailed after fighting with Luton fans. Since then they have had trouble at games against Chesterfield, Mansfield and, oddly, Boreham Wood. And a couple of years ago several Lincoln fans were arrested for fighting with each other on a train after a heavy defeat at Notts County.

I can't help thinking this is a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more fans are labelled as hooligans, the more heavy-handed the policing becomes and the greater the likelihood of arrests being made. It's all very well for Nick Dale to apologise, but the original headline is out there now and will appear on Google searches for years to come.

Though I am reluctant to sing the praises of a Lincoln supporter, this blogpost from a couple of years ago neatly sums up the dilemma currently faced by clubs and fans with a perceived hooligan problem.

Now I'd just like to wish the team good fortune for the trip to Morecambe on Saturday; I am sure the travelling fans will behave impeccably. UTM.